Old houses and other buildings
may contain concealed ritual
objects placed there as
protection against witches and
evil spirits. These objects have
been found in the UK, Continental
Europe, Australia and North
America. The majority of such
objects are found in buildings
constructed before 1800 but they
have been discovered in buildings
dating from as late as the early
20th century. There are no known
contemporary documents that
describe this bizarre custom.

These objects are generally discovered during the
course of renovations to the building. Many are found
by tradesmen. Typical locations are inside the chimney
structure or in other sealed voids within the
building.

This 1860s house had a concealed cat

What to do if you find Ritual Objects

Notify your local heritage authority (but be aware
that many people - even those who should know - have
never heard of this bizarre practice). Contact Ian
Evans at the World of Old Houses to report the find
and for further information and suggestions.

Photograph the object, in situ if possible, with a
tape measure to indicate its size. Record details of
the find, including the date, address and
circumstances of the discovery, plus the precise
location within the building.

Shoes

Shoes are the most common objects discovered. These
are typically well-worn and in most cases only a
single shoe will be found. The chimney breast, roof
cavity or subfloor area are typical locations for
concealed shoes.

Shoes found in 19th century
buildings

Cats

Dried cats may be found in various locations within
a building. In the UK they may be found in roof
thatching. In Australia they have been discovered in
voids near the foundations of the building or in roof
cavities. Cats were believed to have an association
with witches and it may have been thought that they
would serve to decoy evil spirits away from the people
of a house. It may also have been thought that they
would destroy spiritual vermin in the other world.

Cat found in a sealed void in an 1860s
house

Witch
Bottles

Witch bottles are stoneware or glass bottles or
jugs, filled with urine, heart shapes cut from felt,
bent pins and nail clippings. These were buried
beneath the hearth or near entrances to buildings. In
the UK Bellarmine jugs were used to make witch
bottles.

Witch bottles from Hampshire, UK. Image by
Hampshire Museums Service

Other
Finds

A variety of domestic artifacts may be found
concealed within the structure of old houses. These
may include clothing, clay pipes, dolls, utensils,
books, toys and other common household objects.

Apotropaic
Marks

The word apotropaic comes from the Latin
for a verse or hymn intended to avert the
wrath of angry gods. Typical marks invoke the
protection of the Virgin Mary by using the
letters 'VV" (which stands for Virgin of
Virgins), spectacle marks to deflect the evil
eye and runic symbols which were considered
to have magical powers.

A 17th-century dairy door from Suffolk,
UK. Ritual marks have been highlighted with
chalk for clarity

Candlesmoke
Marks

These are found on ceilings, often in
bedrooms or hallways near bedrooms. They
consist of magical symbols written on the
ceiling with the smoke from a candle.